Safety device



Nov.'17, 1931. B. BERGER SAFETY DEVICE Filed July 24, 1928 Mme/170kBryn/u/f fierger I A17) Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE BRYNJULF BERGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERNELECTRIC COM- IANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK SAFETY Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to safety devices, and more particularly'tosafety devices for cabinets containing electrical apparatus.

It is the practice, in some instances, to enclose electrical apparatusemploying high voltages such, for example, as electrical testingapparatus, in a suitable cabinet in order to protect the operatoragainst the inherent dangers incident to coming in contact with suchapparatus when in operation. The cabinet is usually provided with a doorwhich may be conveniently opened for the purpose of inspecting, cleaningor repairing the apparatus contained therein. In order to furtherprotect the operator against any possible injury or electrical shock ithas been found desirable to provide some means for positively preventingan operator from opening thedoor of the cabinet to gain access to theenclosed apparatus without first disconnecting such apparatus from thesource of electrical power.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple andeconomical device for positivelypr'eventing access to confinedelectrical apparatus while such apparatus is in a predeterminedoperating position.

The invention contemplates the provision of a push button switch of anywell known construction for controlling the supply of electrical energyfrom a main source to the apparatus confined within the cabinet. Thisswitch is preferably mounted within thecabinet and is provided withoperating members extending through a wall of the cabinet and projectingoutwardly from the exterior surface thereof. These operating members arepositioned so as to positively prevent the opening of the cabinet doorwhen the switch is closed and permit the door to be opened when theswitch is open.

In one embodiment of the invention the cabinet may be provided with ahinged door having the usual sliding brace for holding the door in anopen position. The switch is positioned so that the switch operatingmemher, which projects outwardly from the exterior of the cabinet whilethe switch is closed, engages a slot in the side of the brace there bypositively preventing the opening of the DEVICE 1928. Serial No.295,088.

cabinet door. Upon the depression of the switch operating member to openthe switch the brace is free to slide over the top of the switchoperating member which at that time is flush with the exterior surfaceof the cabinet.

In another embodiment of the invention a sliding door is employed andthe push button switch is positioned so that one of the switch operatingmembers projects in the path of the sliding door thereby preventing theopening of the door while the switch is closed.

A clear understanding of the invention may be had from the followingdetailed description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the preferred form ofcabinet illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another form of cabinet to which theinvention is applicable.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to similarparts, the numeral 10 designates a cabinet for enelosing electricalapparatus, such, for example, as electrical testing apparatus emplovingelectrical current of high voltage. Electrical power may be supplied tothe apparatus contained within the cabinet through a suitable conduit11.

The cabinet 10 has a hinged door 12 adapted to be opened for replacingfuses and for inspecting the apparatus contained therein. The usualbrace 14 is provided for holding the door in an open position. The brace14 is hinged to the door at point 15, and is arranged to slide over apin 17 secured to the cabinet, said pin engaging a slot 18 extendinglengthwise of the brace.

A. push button switch 20 of any well known construction is secured to amounting block 21 mounted within the cabinet 10 and serves as a meansfor disconnecting the supply of electrical current from a main source(not shown) to the apparatus contained within the cabinet. Push buttons22 and 23 of the switch 20 extend into recesses 24; and 25,respectively, provided in the mounting block 21. The mounting block 21serves to con--- veniently space the switch from the wall of the cabinetso asto permit the use of metallic switch operating members 27 and 28which are: better suited to resist the wear incident to the continueduse of the device over a long period of time. It should be understood,however, that metallic switch operating" members 27 and 28 and themounting block 21 are not essential parts of the. present inventionsince the switch may be mounted in close juxtaposition to the wall ofthe cabinet so that the push buttons thereof project from the exteriorsurface of the cabinetthus rendering it possible to operate the switchdirectly by the push buttons.

The switch operating members 27 and 28 engage the push buttons 22 and.23, respectively, and project throu h suitable aper- Lures provided inthe wall of the cabinet. The members 27 and 28 are provided with en'-larged head portions 26 and 29, respectively,

i which engage the ends of the recesses 24 and 25 thereby preventingtheir displacement. Itw ll be understood that by depressing the member27, the push button 22 is depressed, thus closing the switch 20 andcausing the *push button 23 to be projected outwardlv,f

therebv projecting the member 28 outwardly beyond the exterior surfaceof the cabinet wall. The switch is so positioned with re spect to thedoor brace 14 that the switch operating member 28 engages a slot 30 inthe. side of the brace when the switch is closed, thereby preventing theopening of the cabinet door. Upon depressing the member 28 to open theswitch. the brace 14 is free to slide over the top of the member 28.thus permitting the opening of'the cabinet door- While the door is openthe brace 14 positively prevents outward movement of the member 28, thusrendering it impossible to closethe switch.

It will be understood that the above described structure embodying thefeatures of the invention positively prevents the opening of the cabinetdoor to gain access to the elect ical apparatus confined therein withoutfirst disconnecting the apparatus from the current sup ly.

Ina modified form of the invention a cabi-- net 32, as illustrated inFig. 8, is provided with a sliding door The button or operating member28 of the push button switch 20 projects within the path of the slidingdoor so that the door can not be opened without first depressing thebutt-on 28 to electrically disconnect the electrical apparatus containedwithin the cabinet. Atter the door 33 is opened the button 28 is coveredby the door so that the switch cannot be closed until the door isclosed. Thus, it is obvious that inthis modification of the invention,there is no chance for a person to reach the electrical apparatus whileit is connected to the supply, and once the door is open for exposingthe apparatus it is impossible to electrically connect the apparatuswith the current supply. The invention thus provides a positive meansfor reventing access to electrical apparatus whi e the apparatus isconnected to a current supply.

'From the above description it will be understood that the presentinvention provides a simple and economical device for positivelypreventing access to electrical apparatus confined within a cabinetwithout first disconnecting such apparatus from the operating currentsupply. It should also be understood that the novel features'of theinvention are capable of various other applications within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety device for a cabinet enclosing electrical apparatus, saidcabinet having a door for exposing the apparatus, a two button pushbutton type switch mounted within the cabinet for controlling theelectrical up;

paratus. one button of the switch projecting outwardly from the exteriorsurface of the cabinet when the switch isclosed so as to prevent theopening of the cabinet door and being flush with said surface when theswitch is open.

2. In a safety device for a cabinet enclosing-electrical apparatus, saidcabinet having a door'for exposing the apparatus, an electricalpushbutton type switch for interconnect:- ing the apparatus with anoperating current supply. and an auxiliary push button cooperating'witha push button of the switch for operating the same, said auxiliarybutton obstructin g the opening of the door while the switch is closed.

3. In a safety device for a cabinet enclosing electrical apparatus, saidcabinet having a hinged door, a brace connected to the door for holdingthe door open, an electrical push button type switch forinterconnecting. the

apparatus with an operating current supply, said switch being positionedso as to be rendered inoperable by the brace when the door is open. I

4. The combination with a cabinet for enclosing electrical apparatus,said cabinet having a door which when open exposes the apparatus, of atwo button push button type switch for controlling the electricalapparatus, one of the buttons of the switch being positioned so as torender the switch inoperable when the cabinet door is open.

The combination with a cabinet for. enclosing electrical apparatus, saidcabinet having a hinged door, of a brace connected to the door forholding the door open, said brace having a groove in a side thereof, andan electrical. push button type switch for controlling the electricalapparatus, said switch having an operating button engaging the groove ofthe brace to prevent the opening of the cabinet door while the switch isclosed.

6. The combination with a cabinet enclosing electrical apparatus, saidcabinet having a hinged door, of a brace connected to the door forholding the door open, and an electrical push button type switch forinterconnecting the apparatus with an operating current supply, saidswitch cooperating with the brace so that the switch cannot be closedwhile the cabinet door is open.

In witness whereeof I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of July,A. D. 1928.

-' BRYNJULF BERGER.

